A study by the nonpartisan Pacific Research Institute (PRI) has found that California’s green energy scam will cost households a staggering amount to fund the transition to unreliable alternative sources. PRI released its findings in a paper titled “The Cost of Going Green” as America commemorated Earth Day.
In 2018, then-Gov. Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 100, which required that all electricity produced by 2045 be from renewable sources. Incumbent Gov. Gavin Newsom has aggressively pushed the green scam and imposed additional requirements, making the cost of transition prohibitive.
“According to PRI’s analysis, California households will bear significant costs, estimated to be between $17,398 and $20,182 per household, to fund the state’s transition to alternative energy sources between 2025 and 2050.”
The state intends to spend approximately $246.7 billion to construct green energy infrastructure such as solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles, and charging stations to enable the transition to green energy. It will also use taxpayers’ money to decommission natural gas and nuclear power stations, which are cleaner and more reliable.
“California’s government mandates are forcing an energy transition that will impose enormous costs on the state’s residents,” said Dr. Wayne Winegarden, PRI senior fellow in business and economics and co-author of the study. “These policies will lead to higher energy costs, a less reliable energy system, and reduced economic opportunities. It is crucial for policymakers and the public to understand the true costs of these mandates.”
California is also pushing other unpopular green energy policies, such as mandatory transition from gas-powered to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) by 2035.
Besides the direct costs, the transition to green energy will result in energy shortfalls of about 21.2% by 2045, potentially affecting productivity and the economy. Germany’s economy has slowed down due to various factors, among them an increase in energy prices due to an aggressive pursuit of green energy.
Currently, the cost of energy in California is significantly higher than the national average due to various factors, such as aggressive taxation and regulations to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Despite using 34% less electricity than the national average, Californians pay 56% more for energy than Americans in other states. However, Gov. Gavin Newsom deflects and shifts the blame to oil corporations, which he says increase oil prices to line their shareholders’ pockets.
“You have been fleeced by the oil companies,” Gov. Newsom said. “You have been screwed for decades and decades by the oil companies. They took advantage of market conditions. That’s why we called the special session.”
Meanwhile, the PRI study also debunked the myth that green energy was cheaper and cleaner than fossil fuels. It warned that solar panels are made of toxic materials and are difficult to recycle, posing environmental challenges when discarded. Similarly, the mining of resources for their manufacture and the manufacturing process itself also negatively impact the environment.
“California’s pursuit of a green energy future comes with a hefty price tag and its own environmental challenges,” added Kerry Jackson, study co-author and PRI’s William Clement Fellow in California Reform. “It is essential that policymakers enact energy policies that are economically viable and do not place an undue burden on California’s households and businesses.”
Meanwhile, California legislators are pushing AB 942 to slash solar credits for nearly 2 million homeowners and impose a solar tax.
Besides California, other Democrat-run states, such as New Jersey, also experience higher-than-national-average prices due to misguided green energy initiatives.
